UK-supplied Ferrari 550 Barchetta for sale
Never mind the forecast rain - life would always be sunny with a manual V12 Ferrari roadster
It was interesting to see that the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider was launched alongside the standard car. The last 812 GTS arrived years after the coupe, and prior to that you’d have been very lucky to get a 12-cylinder, front-engined Ferrari V12 roadster of any kind. It would be the really rare stuff, the Apertas and SuperAmericas of this world, that gave the super wealthy their dozen-cylinder fun in the sun. At last, the appetite for that kind of car has been recognised, and the drop-top 12Cilindri will be in production as long as the coupe. Don’t be surprised if more are sold, either - it’s spectacular.
The modern return of the front-engined Ferrari V12 convertible begins with the 550 Barchetta. Ostensibly the car existed to celebrate 70 years of Pininfarina in 2000; at the time, of course, the two brands were inextricably linked, and the 550 Maranello was a Pininfarina design. It made sense for an anniversary car to be based on it. But surely there was also a belief that the regular 550 was perhaps a tad safe for a 12-cylinder flagship, particularly after the mid-engined era. The Barchetta would introduce some flamboyance, that’s for sure.
The fact that you never see these cars anything but topless says a lot about the roof. It was little more than a sheet to throw over the Ferrari to keep low-speed rain off; it was said to be unsafe above 70mph. The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina (to give the car its full name), even by soft stop standards, was for the sunniest of sunny climes, where it would charm with its 5.5-litre V12 and six-speed manual gearbox. Because so little roof was provided, weight was comparable (1,690kg kerb is Ferrari’s figure), and speed equally vivid: 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds is fast. Top speed was limited to 186mph.
There are probably already more orders in for the 12Cilinidri Spider than there ever were 550 Barchettas. Just 448 were made in total through 2000 and 2001, the idea then parked again for a few years before the Superamerica follow-up. Similar in principle, if a bit less cool with the electric roof and majority F1 gearboxes.
Course, all the Maranellos were manual only however they left the factory, and the spec just keeps on getting better for this Barchetta. It’s a UK-supplied, right-hand-drive example, for starters, which is said to represent less than 10 per cent of total production (or 42 cars in total). Rosso Barchetta is a stunning colour, the luggage set is pristine, and check out the accompanying branded helmets - almost worth the asking price on their own
Number 083 of the 448 Barchettas made in total (chassis #124061) has only had three owners since its first registration in 2001. Understandably it’s only been used when the weather has suited, so there’s probably been about 25 days in the past 25 years over here that have suited - accruing 12,000 miles isn’t bad going. There’s a tonne of history, and it looks like a truly flawless Ferrari. A spectacular way to spend the best part of £300k, basically. And surely not likely to become any less significant as Ferrari begins to make a few more, front-engined, V12, soft-top dream machines.
t. As much as I admire the 550/575 those hoops! From most angles it looks abominable with the high-back carbon seats and the roll-over hoops that totally spoil the lines (and I appreciate the roll-over hoops are legally required).
And there’s a reason you never see an advert for the Barchetta with the, ahem, ‘roof’ up.. it looks like an attempt by some drunken Girl Guides to erect a tent.
Plus, iirc, the top speed with the OEM ‘roof’ fitted is 75mph (not that it would trouble all the law-abiding owners, of course).
I am happy that such a machine exists, but I’m afraid it’s not for me.
I don't get the hoops though, were Ferrari not able to fit something akin to the system used on the R129 SLs? Or would that have been deemed inferior?
I don't get the hoops though, were Ferrari not able to fit something akin to the system used on the R129 SLs? Or would that have been deemed inferior?
Out of sheer curiousity, I thought I'd Google the reg to see if there were any traces of that cars existence, and lo and behold....... here it is! Ahhhhh, the memories!!!
http://www.exoticspotter.com/ferrari-550-gold-coas...
550s generally seem good value, can't imagine they will stay that way forever.
I tried to get my dad to buy a Barchetta when they were 140k or thereabouts and told him they will increase a lot.
I think the Barchetta will be a 7-digit car in the medium term. Last manual V12 convertible (with the exception of a handful of Superamericas, although those are really Targas) and really limited numbers compared to more modern cars. Given you can't drive fast anymore anyway, a manual V12 convertible will be very sought after imo.
The roll hoops kind of ruin the flow of the lines, but I think they are ok overall - the car is still pretty to my eyes (and the roof is irrelevant as it will probably never be used anyway).
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mc24/lots/n0001-tw...
I don't get the hoops though, were Ferrari not able to fit something akin to the system used on the R129 SLs? Or would that have been deemed inferior?
It looks like it's wearing a flat cap!
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